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US 12,644,318 B2Granted
Access devices for semi-trailers
AssigneeDriverTech, LLC
InventorsJames Robert Mullins, Mark C. Haslam
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupling access device for a semi-trailer includes: a cover mechanism to cover an air hose coupling for pneumatic brakes of the semi-trailer, the cover mechanism to restrict access to the air hose coupling when in a closed position, and the cover mechanism to provide access to the air hose coupling when in an open position; a lock device to engage the cover mechanism in the closed position; and a controller to actuate the lock device to allow the cover mechanism to transition from the closed position to the open position.
Claims19
A coupling access device for a semi-trailer, comprising:
- a cover mechanism to cover an air hose coupling for pneumatic brakes of the semi-trailer, the cover mechanism to restrict access to the air hose coupling when in a closed position, and the cover mechanism to provide access to the air hose coupling when in an open position;
- a lock device to engage the cover mechanism in the closed position;
- and
- a controller to actuate the lock device to allow the cover mechanism to transition from the closed position to the open position;
- wherein the controller is to actuate the lock device to allow opening of the cover mechanism only in response to a determination that a connected semi-tractor is authorized to connect to the semi-trailer.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- determining, by a controller on a semi-trailer, that a semi-tractor is authorized to connect to the semi-trailer;
- and,
- in response to determining that the semi-tractor is authorized to connect to the semi-trailer, causing, by the controller, a lock device to disengage from a cover mechanism covering an air hose coupling for pneumatic brakes of the semi-trailer to allow the cover mechanism to move to an open position providing access to the air hose coupling;
- wherein the controller is to actuate the lock device to allow opening of the cover mechanism only in response to the determination that the semi-tractor is authorized to connect to the semi-trailer.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.